<p>@jroback,</p>
<p>Another parent here … of a current aggie. </p>
<p>Since people experience the same things differently, I’m sure you guessed that you’d probably get a slew of different answers as to the worth of the various programs. I’ll share my family’s perspective, which will be different from some others’ perspectives.</p>
<p>You’re right: NSC is mandatory. As somebody else said, you’ll eventually get a pamphlet outlining which activities are mandatory and which aren’t. So your son will definitely have to attend. In my opinion, NSC is worthwhile for parents, too. I learned a whole lot about A&M while I was there, and I left NSC feeling really great about this school!</p>
<p>My son went to Fish Camp because everybody under the sun said it was awesome and totally worth one’s time. “You will not regret it!” we heard. “It’s an experience of a lifetime!” we heard. “You HAVE to go!” we heard.</p>
<p>Well … my son is with izelkay. He really didn’t enjoy it that much. It was hot and crowded and like a giant pep rally. He DID get something out of it – I noticed that he came home with a greater respect for, and pride in, his new school and its traditions. He is glad he knows of the various traditions and yells, and I WOULD say that Fish Camp probably added to his sense of camaraderie there. So, those are all good things.</p>
<p>However, he makes friends fairly easily, is somewhat low key, and seems to easily blend into new groups without a problem. AND he doesn’t particularly like big, loud, crowded, hyped-up events. So, he didn’t REALLY want to go to Fish Camp – he just signed up because every single person he asked about it said that he should definitely go! It turns out, it was very much what he expected it to be. He didn’t HATE it. But … meh. It was what he expected. And not really necessary. And to this day, he doesn’t really keep up with his Fish Camp ‘friends,’ like everybody told him he would. He currently has friends from his classes, from a different summer program he participated in prior to freshman year, from a certain club he’s in been in at TAMU since his very first semester, and from his honors dorm. But not from Fish Camp. </p>
<p>So, I would say, if your kid is like my kid, and he doesn’t like stuff like that, and he doesn’t feel a need to ‘make friends’ prior to entering college, then he shouldn’t necessarily go. There’s nothing wrong with going. I don’t think he’ll HATE it. But, it’ll probably be about what he’s expecting it to be. The advice you’ll hear the most is going to be: GO! But, I’m not sure it’s all that it’s cracked up to be. </p>
<p>Gig 'em week. My son loves Gig 'em week! Yes, your son will get to move in early for Gig 'em week. Personally, I think this is the best program of the three you mentioned. It’s a great week to transition to Aggie life. Not everybody comes back to campus early, so he’ll get to move in before the big upperclassman rush. He’ll meet his dorm ‘mom’ and ‘dad.’ (They’re just upperclass students who are basically RA’s.) He can get the lay of the land and find all of his classes so that he knows just where to go on the first day of school. He can pick up his books, buy spirit wear, socialize, meet people. He can go to the gym each day. He can drive around town and check things out (if he brings a car or has friends with cars). As he moves in, if he discovers that he forgot something, he’ll have time to go pick it up at the local Target (or wherever). He’ll get to pick and choose whichever activities he likes for the entire week.</p>
<p>My son LOVES Gig 'em week! He wants to move in early each year. He likes seeing his friends. He likes revving up for the new school year with zero pressure. He likes getting all his ducks in a row before the first day of classes. He likes having plenty of time to find everything he needs if he discovers he’s missing something. It’s just a relaxing, fun week with friends, as far as my son is concerned.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you and your son! He picked a great school! :)</p>